'Artificial Intelligence creates more problems than benefits.' Discuss.

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"It is like summoning the demons", remarked Elon Musk, cofounder of SpaceX, Tesla and CEO of OpenAI, when asked to comment on artificial intelligence (AI). Ever since the explosion of AI usage, it has drawn critics to warn the use of the technology, painting a dystopian future where humans become slaves to technology. However, despite some of the problems AI brings, I believe that as long as we use it responsibly, AI can open a whole new world of benefits for humanity. Therefore, I am for the argument that AI creates more benefits than problems.

Detractors of my stand may argue that AI creates more problems than benefits because it polarises people's ideological viewpoints, escalating tensions between different groups and minorities, creating conflicts and undermining democracy. AI is employed by many companies to enhance their products. However, it is interesting to note that news sites leverage this technology to keep their readership as well. Wall Street Journal (WSJ), released a new feature in 2016 termed "Red Feed Blue Feed" whereby one would see articles that cater to his or her liberal (Red) or conservative (Blue) viewpoints. On one hand, one might see how Donald Trump tarnishes the economy by pulling out of treaties and when switched to "other side", might observe the striking one-sided argument of its benefits. In fact, one might see two different titles that contradict each other, yet stem from the same article. This feature was an attempt to highlight how companies use recommendation algorithms to keep users glued to their screen, to the extent that users' feed can become extremely divisive. The reason why companies implement this technology is because companies are cognizant that psychologically, when humans read or see something that confirms their initial beliefs, "feel-good" hormones like dopamine, endorphins and serotonin fire in the brains of the reader, causing one to feel more addicted, more indulged to read on. Unsurprisingly, as a result of this, people may develop more biased and extreme viewpoints that when confronted with each other can fuel discontent and political unrest. Moreover, this undermines the functioning of democracy which necessitates that we question everything, take nothing at face value and engage in civil discourse by considering opposing viewpoints. However, AI impairs just that. Therefore, it is fair to argue that AI, does indeed create more problems than benefits.

While I do concede that AI is not without its flaws, I staunchly believe that nevertheless, AI still brings about more benefits that problems. Despite the fact that AI destabilises society and puts democracy at risk, it has the ability to save lives at an individual level. Autonomous vehicles that drive themselves with minimal supervision from the driver, uses AI to predict and interpret the environment around the car, from the information it receives from sensors placed on the vehicle. LIDAR (LIght Detection and Ranging) collects terabytes of data from scanning 360 degrees around the vehicle and this immense volume of information can only be made useful with AI that is able to digest and segment the data quickly and efficiently making split second decision s and saving lives. Every year an estimated 500,000 people die on the road in the US alone. 92% of which are a direct causality of drivers' errors, from stepping on the wrong pedal or by missing out other road users from failure of inspection. This is where AI can help. Ever since the roll out of the first autonomous vehicle, AI has proved itself by even predicting accidents up to 3 seconds before they happen. Hence, it is undeniable that AI enhances our lives and keeping the notion of lives being saved in mind, the benefits of AI far outweigh the problems it creates.

Furthermore, although some aspects of our lives are made complicated by AI, from having to cross check news articles that we read, it has made our lives a lot more convenient. Smart home assistants are sprawling up as companies race to enter your doors. Google Home, and Amazon's Echo are just two of such devices. First, one triggers the device by enunciating an activation phrase like "Ok Google!" or "Hey Alexa", then make a request to schedule a barber's hair cut, or to add an item to the grocery list, following that. The AI embedded within the system then attempts to decipher what one is saying by using a technique called "Natural Language Processing" to identify keywords and commands. This is otherwise not possible as humans have a huge array of different slangs and accents, and we cannot expect regular consumers to memorise formats of giving a command, which will defeat the purpose of having a virtual assistant. Hence, these devices that implement AI has made our lives easier as they optimise and streamline our everyday tasks, reducing the need to perform monotonous and repetitive tasks. Thus, I believe that AI has brought about more benefits than the problems it creates.

Lastly, I would argue that AI brings more benefits than problems as they provide accurate and efficient solutions to many of human's problems. One may never think that one can ever seek comfort in conversing about one's daily drudgeries to a chatbot. However, developments in this field has proven otherwise. ELIZA, created in the 1960s by two MIT graduates is a therapeutic chatbot that allows one to chat about his issues. Initially the scientific community scoffed at the idea and argued that robots will never be able to empathise, what more to console a lost soul. However when people who participated in the trial refused to stop conversing (and some even cried), it shocked the world. It is not that AI can by some way empathise all of a sudden. But rather, it is the illusion it gives to humans that someone is listening and despite not being able to empathise, it displays signs that will convince one otherwise. By responding with phrases like "That's concerning, what made you feel sad?" and "I'm really sorry to hear that but please go on", it offered many something that many are deprived of – a listening ear. Today chatbots apart from being consoling, it is used by doctors in Sweden to diagnose patient with depression. Reportedly, it is able to diagnose patients 79% more accurately than psychiatrists can. Hence, I strongly believe that far from creating more problems, AI brings us solutions that benefits us close at "heart".

All in all, while the talk about a singularity evokes fear in people that they will be displaced from their jobs or cause humanity to self-annihilate from opposing each other to the extent that people turn violent and militant, I maintain that as long as AI is regulated and used ethically and responsible, the immense benefits it brings will supersede its problems. "It is not a gun that kills people, it is people that kill people." I am where I began, whether or not AI brings about greater benefits or problems all depends on how we use it.